Family of mentally ill single mother accuse DWP of failing to protect her – The Guardian

‘The family of a severely mentally ill woman who died after being without disability benefits for several months have accused the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of failing to safeguard her.’

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The Guardian, 5th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man admits killing his children at London home during UK lockdown – The Guardian

‘A man has admitted slitting the throats of his two young children during lockdown. Nadarajah Nithiyakumar, 41, attacked his daughter Pavinya, aged 19 months, and three-year-old son Nigash at the family home in Ilford, east London, on 26 April.’

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The Guardian, 5th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Andrew Hill – ‘Sentencing of Young People with particular reference to the Issue of Mental Health’- 33 Bedford Row

‘I will look at in this article at some of the sentencing principles and guidance when sentencing young people and in particular for serious offences and when they are suffering from mental illness.’

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33 Bedford Row, 27th October 2020

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Man who controlled ex-partner’s digital existence jailed – BBC News

‘A man who used his ex-partner’s social media accounts to send explicit clips of her to her boss and family has been jailed for three years and four months.’

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BBC News, 29th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inappropriate police restraint contributed to the death of Kevin Clarke inquest concludes – Garden Court Chambers

Posted October 29th, 2020 in inquests, mental health, news, police, restraint by sally

‘Kevin Andre Clarke was 35-year-old black man who died after being restrained by police in Lewisham, South London, on 9 March 2018. Kevin had suffered from paranoid schizophrenia since the age of 17 and at the time of his death was experiencing a mental health episode.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 9th October 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Inquest concludes that fatal stabbing of Bathsheba Shepherd could have been prevented – Garden Court Chambers

‘The family of a vulnerable woman who was killed by her housemate while in supported accommodation have spoken of their loss after an inquest found that her death could have been prevented if effective risk assessments had been carried out.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 5th October 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Fourth High Court judge this year hits out at lack of secure accommodation for vulnerable young person – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 27th, 2020 in children, detention, mental health, news, young persons by sally

‘A fourth High Court judge this year has sent a copy of their judgment to the Secretary of State for Education in a case concerning the lack of secure accommodation for a vulnerable young person.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th October 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK Covid policy for children in detention ‘cruel and inhumane’, says UN expert – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2020 in children, coronavirus, detention, mental health, news, United Nations, young offenders by sally

‘The UK government’s policy of allowing children in detention to be locked alone in their cells for up to 23 hours a day under emergency Covid-19 measures is “extreme and inhumane” and could lead to lifelong mental health damage, according to the UN special rapporteur on torture and leading child health experts.’

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The Guardian, 27th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Damning CQC report calls for improved community-based capacity, pooled budgets and new national specialist commissioner of complex care – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Care Quality Commission review has found “undignified and inhumane” care in some hospital settings providing complex care for autistic people, and people with a learning disability and/or mental health condition.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th October 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

CQC report: Care of people with learning disabilities ‘inhumane’ – BBC News

‘Too many hospitals for people with learning disabilities or autism are providing poor care which is, at times, undignified and inhumane, the care regulator for England has said.’

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BBC News, 23rd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Overarching principles: Sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders, or neurological impairments – St Philips Barristers

‘The Sentencing Council’s guideline for sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders, or neurological impairments came into force on 1 October 2020. The guideline applies only to offenders aged 18 and older, who are sentenced on or after 1 October 2020, regardless of the date of the offence. The applicable guideline for offenders under the age of 18 remains the Sentencing Children and Young People guideline, particularly section 11.1 to 1.14.’

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St Philips Barristers, 7th October 2020

Source: st-philips.com

Ombudsman criticises council for leaving visually impaired man without support to access the community – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 23rd, 2020 in carers, disabled persons, local government, mental health, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘A visually impaired man did not have the help he needed for 14 months after Westminster City Council reduced his support package, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd October 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Female lawyers anxious over disproportionate impact of Covid – Legal Futures

‘Almost a quarter of women in the profession have not seen their incomes return to pre-Covid levels with one in five still on less than their previous working hours, a survey has found.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Covid: ‘Perfect storm’ causing employment tribunal backlog – BBC News

Posted October 22nd, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, delay, employment tribunals, mental health, news, redundancy by sally

‘Concerns are being raised over a Covid-related backlog of tribunal cases involving people who believe they have lost their jobs unfairly.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Covid: prisoner mental health at risk of ‘irreparable damage’ – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, health, mental health, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation by sally

‘Locking up prisoners in what amounts to solitary confinement under Covid restrictions risks causing “irreparable damage” to their mental health and does nothing to reduce reoffending, the chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales has said.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

FS v RS and JS – A Most Unusual Case about the bank of mum and dad… – Transparency Project

‘Described as “a most unusual case”, the Family Court at the Royal Courts of Justice recently dismissed a forty-one-year-old son’s claim that the “bank of mum and dad” was legally obligated to maintain him. Most court orders for the payment of maintenance of children provide for that obligation to end at the age of 18 or upon the child leaving school. The courts retain jurisdiction to make or vary orders for maintenance of children in limited circumstances, including where there is already a court order in force, to meet expenses in connection with education or training for a trade, profession or vocation, and where the child has expenses attributable to a disability. In FS v RS and JS [2020] EWFC 63, Sir James Munby considered whether the court had jurisdiction in relation to claims under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and the Children Act 1989 and whether jurisdiction under the inherent jurisdiction could be exercised as the Applicant asserted. This is an overview of Munby J’s remarkable judgment in light of an unprecedented proposition upon the court’s traditionally paternal or parental character.’

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Transparency Project, 19th October 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Teenager’s death after being given antipsychotic was ‘potentially avoidable’ – The Guardian

‘The death of a teenager who was given antipsychotic medication though he and his family warned that the drug might cause him serious harm could have been avoided, an independent review has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prisoners locked up for 23 hours due to Covid rules is ‘dangerous’ – BBC News

Posted October 20th, 2020 in coronavirus, mental health, news, prisons by sally

‘Prisoners being locked in their cells for 23 hours a day under Covid restrictions is dangerous, the chief inspector of prisons has warned.’

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BBC News, 20th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police 999 callouts to people suffering mental health crises soar – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2020 in mental health, news, police, statistics by sally

‘The police are being called to deal with soaring numbers of incidents involving people suffering from mental health crises, sparking fresh concern about lack of NHS help for the mentally ill.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dementia patient restrained by security guards 18 times to be forcibly treated – Daily Telegraph

‘A dementia patient was restrained by security guards 18 times so he could be forcibly treated, as experts warn the case is “shocking and extreme”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th October 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk